East Australian Current Shoreward Intrusion Mapped from 26 Years of Satellite SST Data

A 26-year remotely sensed dataset of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from 1992 to 2018 maps the shoreward intrusion of the East Australian Current (EAC) off northern New South Wales. The Australian Ocean Data Network provides this data, processed using a Topographic Position Index technique to enable direct measurement of intrusion area and distance. Analyses show the EAC moves closer to the coast in austral summer and autumn, providing quantitative evidence of its seasonal migration.

Use Cases

• Model seasonal coastal upwelling patterns based on the quantified seasonal migration of the East Australian Current.
• Analyze shelf circulation dynamics based on the measured changes in the current's distance-to-coast and occupied shelf area.
• Study long-term variability in western boundary currents based on the 26-year satellite SST record.
• Validate ocean circulation models using direct measurements of current intrusion area and distance.

Strengths

• Long-term temporal coverage spanning 26 years from 1992 to 2018.
• Enables direct quantitative measurement of ocean current intrusion via area and distance metrics.
• Focuses on a specific, dynamically important region (East Australian Current off northern NSW, 28°S - 32.5°S).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing solely on the southeastern Australian margin.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Remotely sensed AVHRR Sea Surface Temperature data processed with a Topographic Position Index technique.

Time Range

1992-2018

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 08:49:46.930294; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Coastal ocean off northern New South Wales, Australia, between 28°S - 32.5°S.